Graduate attributes have received considerable attention in recent years as universities seek to renew and articulate their purposes. Though many claims are made with respect to the implementation of graduate attributes, there is growing acceptance of the proposition that the strongest evidence of their achievement is their explicit embedding in assessment. While university policies espouse the assessment of graduate attributes, studies have suggested that the effectiveness of this undertaking is often limited by the influence of a range of diverse but interrelated factors. This paper discusses these influential factors and argues that the assessment of graduate attributes is a complex issue that is unlikely to be resolved unless these factors are addressed at a systemic level.